The first responding units found a 16-year-old girl on the canal bank who was a passenger, but was able to exit and get to shore.

Police said the preliminary investigation determined that she was helped to shore by the 18-year-old male driver, who re-entered the water in an attempt to rescue three other passengers.

The 18-year-old died during his attempt to rescue those passengers, and his body was recovered from the water a short time later, police said.

The three passengers were all males, 16, 12 and 6 years old.

Just before 5 p.m., the vehicle was removed from the water, and the 16-year-old and the 12-year-old were found in the vehicle and pronounced dead.

The 6-year-old wasn't in the car and remains unaccounted for. The search and investigation is continuing.

Identification of the victims is pending notification of next of kin.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cpl. Breen of the Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit by calling 302-365-8486 or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or online at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.